When you make a movie there are many factors that need to mesh
to make the picture enjoyable. Making a movie that becomes a classic is a rarity and turning that classic into a franchise is rarer still. In 1979 when Alien was released no one expected that the creature would become a horror icon and that 35 years later we would still be talking about the events on the Nostromo.
Not only did Alien become a classic but the franchise it spawned has captured the hearts of not just science fiction fans but horror fans as well. In my opinion the first sequel, Aliens, which was directed by James Cameron is the best of all 4 movies (we are not including Prometheus) but I know that there may be some debate on the matter. Everyone has a favorite movie or a favorite character but the one constant is the creature. That large, biomechanical insect which was originally designed by Swiss artist, H.R. Giger is not just the stuff of legend but of nightmares.
To celebrate the 35 years since Alien premiered Titan books has published Alien: The Archive- The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies. This 320 glossy-page book is a perfect companion to the movies with hundreds of photos and commentary from those who worked on the film series. The book is divided into 4 main sections, one for each movie with each section being broken down further with looks at everything from the actors themselves to the patches on their uniforms.
Each section contains something on the design of the alien creature itself. The evolution of the alien is highly interesting. It is amazing how the alien went from being hardly seen in the first movie to being very prominently shown in the subsequent sequels. I am pretty sure that most people can describe the creature with some level of accuracy at this point. According to conceptional designer Ron Cobb the first alien suit was “basically phallic symbols and motorcycle parts” and he thought that people might find it (the creature) laughable but the way the movie was shot made it effective. This is similar to Bruce the shark in Jaws. Spielberg had issues getting the mechanical shark to operate correctly and so was forced to not show the shark in some scenes and the rest is movie history.
One of the great things about Alien: The Archive is the amount of production information for Alien3 and Alien: Resurrection. Over the years there have been other books published that have showcased the designs and behind the scenes for the first two films but the amount of material contained in this book for the latter sequels is excellent. There are breakdowns for each of the sets used for both movies. Everything from the Gothic look of David Fincher’s Alien 3 to the weapon designs from Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Alien: Resurrection. I have always loved set and prop design so this book is amazing to me.
Alien: The Archive-The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies is an absolute must for any fan of the Alien franchise. This really is an ultimate guide. There are tons of photos and information from those who worked on the movies both in front and behind the cameras. I am really impressed and pleased with this book. The only way I could have been happier would be if I woke up from cryo on the Sulaco. That joy however would have been short lived. Remember, “In space, no one can hear you scream…” even screams of joy when you get this book. Happy reading.
Alien: The Archive-The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies is published by Titan Books and measures 10.3 x 1.2 x 13.1 inches. Retail for this exceptional book is $50.00 and is worth every penny. Show someone you love them this holiday season and give them the gift of movie history.
